Microsoft to release Starfield on PlayStation 5 in shift away from Xbox exclusives

Microsoft is set to release Starfield on Sony’s PlayStation 5, marking a significant shift in its approach to console exclusivity.

The space exploration game, developed by Bethesda, was originally launched in 2023 as an Xbox and PC exclusive. Bethesda, a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, has been owned by Microsoft since its $7.5 billion acquisition in 2021.

The decision to expand Starfield to a rival platform reflects a broader change in Microsoft’s gaming strategy.

In recent years, the company has begun making previously exclusive titles available across multiple platforms as it responds to market conditions and development costs.

Sales performance of Xbox Series X and S consoles, released in 2020, has been cited as a factor in this shift.

Microsoft has gradually moved away from relying on exclusive titles to drive hardware sales, instead focusing on reaching a wider player base.

The move follows earlier announcements that other major franchises would also appear on PlayStation. In 2025, Microsoft confirmed that the next instalment in its Halo series would launch on Sony’s platform, marking another departure from its traditional exclusivity model.